Cyclist completes 6,000km journey for hospitals

AS he arrived in Rosslare, Co Wexford on Saturday, November 2, Mark Keating could finally reflect on the fact he had successfully cycled over 6,000km from Dublin to Belgrade and back.

He stepped off the boat to a rapturous reception in good old Irish rain and peddled his way up the road before stopping at Jack Whites to have a nice cuppa.

There, he enjoyed another welcoming party along with members of his cycling club IMBRC who joined him to cycle the last leg home.

After arriving at his home to more banners and ecstatic welcomes from family and friends, he said:

“Well, it’s hard to describe in words the feeling, it was just fantastic, to see my family after nearly three months.

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On arrival home the kilometers travelled totalled a staggering 6,680.

He was away for 93 days and had crossed 14 countries enduring a lot of saddle soreness along the way.

That night his Southside-based company, Whitewater, of which he is CEO, organised a homecoming night in Fitzpatrick’s Killiney Castle, and Mark couldn’t wait to see all his colleagues, friends, supporters and sponsors.

A fantastic night was had by all with good food, which was a truly welcome change from Mark’s tent and basic camp fare.

When he arrived in Belgrade on Saturday, September 14, Mark had cycled over 3,500km from Dublin. There he presented e8,000 to The Institute of Mother & Child Health Care to help them purchase equipment in the burns unit.

They needed a new skin graft machine as their only one was over 20 years old.

On September 27 Mark left Belgrade to depart on the return leg of his journey, which contained many more challenges.

The journey home raised more funds for two Irish children’s hospitals.

Both Temple Street and Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children indicated that they needed vital specialist equipment to help the sickest children in their Intensive Care Units.

At Temple Street Hospital the funds raised by Mark’s endeavors will buy a NoxBoxi Nitric Oxide Delivery System which is used for very sick children who are not responding to conventional ventilation.

The chosen equipment for Our Lady’s Hospital, in Crumlin, is a bedside brain monitor that will be used to help assess the condition of very sick new born babies in the Intensive Care Unit.

On Friday, November 15 Mark visited both hospitals to see where the equipment will be used and presented the two cheques for e26,000 to each.

“I am very lucky, and privileged to have been able to make this journey, some of it back in time to old places I was 20 years ago with the Red Cross,

? he reflected.

“I am very lucky to have had the support from sponsors, colleagues and family, they all played a part, to make this unusual way of giving something good and positive back to the wider community, possible.

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To make a donation log onto www.whitewaterfoundation.org and follow the PayPal instruction.